MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES -- MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.- The 8th annual Marine Corps Trials, a Paralympic-style adaptive sports event hosted by the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, will take place for the first time at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 15-24, 2018.
"Camp Lejeune has been eager to host the Trials since its inception," said Wounded Warrior Regiment Commanding Officer Col. Larry Miller. "Due to unforeseen logistical issues at Camp Pendleton this year, the choice to change to Lejeune was an easy one and will allow us to showcase the efforts of our recovering service members, Battalions and Regiment to a new community."
Closely coordinated with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Community Services Lejeune-New River and the USO of North Carolina, the Marine Corps Trials is an adaptive sports event involving more than 200 wounded, ill or injured Marines, Sailors, veterans and international competitors from Australia, Colombia, France, Georgia, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The Trials promotes recovery and rehabilitation through adaptive sports participation and develops camaraderie among recovering service members and veterans. It is as an opportunity for recovering service members to demonstrate their achievements and serves as the primary venue to select Marine Corps participants for the DoD Warrior Games.
"Our Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program works every day to further our Marines and Sailors, and the Marine Corps Trials is an opportunity to show the public these service members are still in the fight," Miller said.
Participants in the Trials will have the opportunity to compete in archery, cycling, field, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and wheelchair basketball. The event will also feature a wheelchair rugby exhibition and a military transition-related event.
The event is open to DoD ID holders and sponsored guests. Those interested in volunteering can register through the USO of North Carolina: https://northcarolina.uso.org/events/163.
About the Wounded Warrior Regiment: Established in 2007, the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment provides leadership and ensures compliance with laws and DoD instructions related to the support, recovery and non-medical care of combat and non-combat wounded, ill and injured Marines, Sailors attached to Marine units and their family members in order to maximize their recovery as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The regimental headquarters, located in Quantico, Va., oversees the operations of two wounded warrior battalions located at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., as well as multiple detachments in locations around the globe.
For more information about the Wounded Warrior Regiment go to www.woundedwarrior.marines.mil or visit us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/wwr.usmc.